[Employing Emotional Virtual Characters for Teaching in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry].

Abstract

Employing Emotional Virtual Characters for Teaching in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Abstract: Communication and interaction are central to teaching child and adolescent psychiatry, with practical exercises often needing more access to actual patients or actors. Virtual reality (VR) offers an innovative solution by enabling simulation-based learning. With the help of computer-generated, interactive characters, students can practice repeatedly and in a standardized way how to conduct a medical interview and acquire communication skills. Initial tests with students show a high level of acceptance and believability despite the need for optimization of the voice input and the student's desire to use such new technology in teaching in the future. The next step will be to evaluate the benefits of the VR application regarding learning success and the influence of the teaching method on motivation and enjoyment of learning.